Two fires raze chapel, 14 houses

Debris of houses left after a fire razed 13 houses in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Rolando Guardiano)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Some families will have to spend Christmas Day in temporary shelters after their houses were razed by two fires late Sunday night.

Chief Inspector Publio Ploteña, city fire marshal, said they received the first fire call around 11:30 p.m. at Purok Alalahoy, Barangay Banago here.

Ploteña said eight houses were destroyed while five others were damaged when the fire broke out from the house of Morito Marifosque, being occupied by a certain “Rance.”

Ploteña said they had difficulty in entering the fire scene because of the narrow passage.

“Gamay alagyan, ga liko-liko pa kag ikit-ikit gid ang balay,” he added.

Ploteña said they decided to pass by the back part and destroyed a portion of a fence made of galvanized iron to penetrate the area.

Ploteña said estimated cost of damage was pegged at P100,000. Fire out was declared around 12:03 a.m.

Another fire call was also reported at Purok Pinetree, Barangay Bata here, which destroyed a chapel and damaged a house of a pastor around 12 midnight.

Ploteña said about P15,000 was damaged in the fire, which was put out 13 minutes later.

No injuries were reported in both incidents.

Ploteña said the causes of fire are still under investigation.

He reminded the public to be very careful especially during the holidays, adding that most fire calls happen in slum residential areas.

These two fire incidents were among the four incidents reported by the BFP last week, including in Barangays 10 and Tangub.